The nature (and nurture) of personality disorders
Open accessAbstract
Personality disorders have a long history in the literature but a short scientific history. The point prevalence of personality disorders is 10%, but the lifetime prevalence is probably 30–40%. Genetic factors contribute to around 40–50% of the variation in the development of personality disorders. The effect of shared environment is very small or non‐existent. Some researchers have tried to promote gene‐environment interaction. However, in reality, the studies investigated gene‐situation interaction, as the “environment” may in reality be partly of a genetic nature. Thus, we are dealing with an unknown part of gene‐gene interaction. Gene‐experience (not gene‐environment) correlations are the rule in human life. Personality disorders co‐occur (are comorbid) with symptom disorders (Axis I) and correlate with common personality dimensions. Possibly, the concept of personality disorder could merge with dysfunctional personality types. But it is likely that the concept will survive on its own.
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APD is one of the most prevalent personality disorders across community and clinical samples.
“although it is one of the most prevalent personality disorders across community and clinical samples and is known by its significant functional impairment [71–73].”
From Group schema therapy versus group cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder with comorbid avoidant personality disorder: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. (2016) · cites this paper as [72]
The PREVALENCE section (p. 625) places avoidant personality disorder among the most common disorders in community prevalence studies. Its clinical-sample passage says that personality disorders collectively were common among outpatients, but does not establish that avoidant personality disorder was one of the most prevalent in clinical samples. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAPD is known by its significant functional impairment.
“although it is one of the most prevalent personality disorders across community and clinical samples and is known by its significant functional impairment [71–73].”
From Group schema therapy versus group cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder with comorbid avoidant personality disorder: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. (2016) · cites this paper as [72]
The PREVALENCE section (p. 625) places avoidant personality disorder among the most common personality disorders in population studies. The IS THE CONCEPT SUSTAINABLE? section (page unavailable) reports substantially reduced quality of life for personality disorders generally, but does not establish significant functional impairment specifically for avoidant personality disorder. Its clinical-sample prevalence statement likewise concerns personality disorders as a group. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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- Authors
- TORGERSEN, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Oslo (NO)
- Corresponding author
- TORGERSEN, SVENN
- ORCID
- TORGERSEN, SVENN
- Venue
- Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2009-11-19
- Volume
- 50
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 624-632
- ISSN
- 0036-5564 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9450
- OpenAlex
- W2039892006
- Cited by
- 144
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 0.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Scandinavian Journal of Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
- Keywords
- personality disorders, genetic factors, heritability, gene-environment interaction, shared environment, prevalence, comorbidities, Axis I disorders, personality factors, etiology
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Life Change Events, Personality Disorders, Risk Factors, Social Environment, Prevalence, Genetic Predisposition to Disease
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